BirthWorks International (BWI) is committed to ensuring website accessibility for all users, including those with sensory, cognitive, and mobility needs. We want to provide accessible digital content, products, and services to all. We continually take steps to offer everyone equal opportunity to gain full benefits from our website, digital content, and other services and goods. Everyone should have access to education, information, and resources (about pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting) as well as the support they want, need, and deserve.
We Invite Feedback
We welcome communication about your experience with the www.birthworks.org website, our content, and organization.
If you have challenges accessing this website or while using any of its features, or with any of our digital content, please reach out with questions and comments to info@birthworks.org or call +1-609-953-9380 (USA). Please include the specific problem(s) encountered and the website address (URL).
We take feedback seriously when evaluating accommodation improvements and our overall accessibility policies. If using assistive technology (such as a Braille reader or screen reader) and/or anything on the site interferes with your accessibility needs, you can also Contact Us online.
We will do our best to provide the information and transactions you need through accommodations, such as auxiliary services, or alternate communication methods.
Support of Accessibility Measures
BirthWorks International (BWI) uses the following initiatives to stay aware of and make changes to ensure that our website and content are accessible and serve everyone:
- Include accessibility as part of our business goals and understand our obligations
- Research and get professional advice on the importance of digital accessibility
- Discuss ways to develop and improve continual functionality improvements (such as visual and text-to-speech compatibility) with our website development team
- Seek legal advice regarding accessibility rules and implement continual updates
- Have designated staff oversee strategy, educate team members, and, as needed, train in compliance measures
- Set up monitoring and maintenance, including regular audits (scans, evaluations, and testing), and remediation site changes by our technical team
- Update this page with compliance, policy, and website changes and upgrades
- Continue improving SEO for the most enhanced user experience (with a cleaner interface and smoother navigation
Conformance Standards
BirthWorks International (BWI) researches and considers how well we meet specific accessibility standards.
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) define requirements for designers and developers to improve accessibility for people with disabilities. Continually updated versions share visual and auditory criteria, plus digital code (for website structure and presentation). There are three conformance levels: A, AA, and AAA. [Level A is foundational critical barrier removal, Level AA is the comprehensive, default standard, and Level AAA is the extreme standard for future consideration.]
BirthWorks International (BWI) is assessing, and, as needed, updating our content and site to conform fully to Level A and aiming to fulfill WCAG 2.1 AA and 2.2 AA to remove the most significant barriers to accessibility. In addition, we will review the Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA) specifications and Max Access Toolbar option and seek other third-party solutions or plugins (possibly User Way) to automate accessibility checks and regular compliance.
As a US-based business that operates partly online, BirthWorks International (BWI) takes steps to ensure our website complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act(ADA). The Act mandates that public accommodations, including websites, must be accessible to people and usable by individuals with a wide range of disabilities, such as those who use screen readers, have difficulty with vision or motor skills, or have other impairments.
Technical Specifications
The accessibility of the BirthWorks International (BWI) website relies on the following technologies to work with the particular combination of the web browser and any assistive technologies or plugins installed on your computer: hypertext markup language (HTML) and cascading style sheets (CSS). These are used to conform to the accessibility standards.
Limitations
Despite our best efforts to ensure accessibility, there may be limitations. While our website is compatible with most major internet browsers, it may not perform optimally on older browser versions or all browsers. Additionally, we can not control whether vendors of third-party digital content always provide accessible, user-friendly content.
Additional Resources
For more information on global standards for web accessibility and legal requirements for the USA (where our head office is located), check these sites:
- Accessible.org—Digital Accessibility + Compliance Experts
- ADA.gov—Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects people (in the USA) from discrimination. In 2024, a rule updated regulations for Title II of the Act for website and mobile app accessibility.
- Section508.gov—the U.S. Access Board published a 2017 final rule updating requirements for information and communication technology (ICT) covered by Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and Section 255 of the Communications Act to improve technical compliance support.
- W3.org/WAI—The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) develops the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) for best practice and requirements for compliance with digital accessibility laws for websites and all digital assets.
Accessibility Tips
It is challenging to stay updated with all the frequent technological changes, but the following tips may help. An internet or AI search (e.g., ChatGPT) can reveal updated tools.
- Zoom in or magnify your screen for a better experience
- For Windows, press the Windows key and the plus (+) sign together to zoom in, or use the Magnifier application under Accessories. Or on the keyboard, use Control and the plus (+) or minus (-) signs.
- On your Mac device, tap System Settings, then Accessibility, or iPhone Settings, then Accessibility
- Change contrast, browser colors, and fonts to see words more clearly
- Some tools include Invert Colors, Color Filters, and Reduce White Point
- Internet Explorer—go to Tools, then Internet Options, General, then select Colors, Fonts, or Accessibility
- Firefox—choose Settings, then Language and Appearance, and also see Website Appearance, Contrast Control, Fonts, Zoom
- Safari—choose Settings, then Websites (to use Reader) or choose Advanced, Accessibility, or search for Safari User Guide and the term Accessibility for tips
- Chrome—find accessibility extensions you can add, visit the Chrome Web Store and search for accessibility
- Use a Screen Reader
- Text-to-speech software allows people to read and interact differently with content, allowing audible access to web content.
- Some are free, like VoiceOver for Mac (iOS) or NVDA and JAWS for Windows, or TalkBack for Android.
